The Most Overlooked Historic Sites In The World (PHOTOS)

When it comes to historic sites, there's always been a staple list of stunning wonders. From Pisa's leaning tower to The Acropolis of Athens, tourists make a beeline for these giants of the sightseeing world.

Yet, what of the sites that live near them? After all, in many instances, the sheer celebrity of these attractions is so great that it overshadows everything nearby.

Our fellow historians at the travel website Historvius.com decided to take a look at a number of historical sites that are eclipsed by these icons of tourism.

This selection shines a light on ruins, buildings and museums that, were they located anywhere else, would surely stand out from the crowd.

What other sites are overlooked that shouldn't be? Send in your picks and start the debate!

Captions and photos courtesy of Historvius.com.

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A UNESCO-listed site, the Agra Fort was a vast sandstone fortification which evolved into an impressive city complete with everything from mosques to palaces. However, while Emperor Akbar was responsible for one of India's most outstanding creations, he would be outshone by his grandson, Emperor Shah Jahan. For, it was also in Agra that Shah Jahan chose to build a mausoleum for his wife, the magnificent exercise in grandeur and symmetry known as the Taj Mahal.

Some sites are so well-known that they can outshine places far beyond their near neighbors. A great example of this is Hadrian's Wall which, despite being located in England, manages to eclipse a site way across the Scottish border, namely The Antonine Wall. After all, everyone's heard of the famous Roman forts of Hadrian's Wall but far fewer know of its northern counterpart. Yet, travel up to see this ancient defensive structure and you can still visit the ruins of several forts including the one at Bar Hill (pictured).

Dominating Barcelona's skyline, La Sagrada Familia is often seen as the very heart of the city. Indeed this is the most famous of the buildings by Antoni Gaudi, whose works attract endless numbers of tourists to the city from around the globe. Yet, while this incomplete site may be an ecclesiastical masterpiece, it is not actually Barcelona's cathedral.
This role belongs to the official Barcelona Cathedral - Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia - a stunning building less than three miles from La Sagrada Familia but eons away in terms of publicity. It's worth saying that, with their dramatic spires and intricate facades, the two buildings are not actually all that dissimilar.

From its Crusader fort to its amphitheater with an ocean view, there's so much to see at Caesarea that you can feel spoiled for choice. Yet, one thing that many visitors to this ancient site seem to miss is the beautifully preserved Caesarea Aqueduct. Set about a mile outside the main archaeological site, this is often overlooked yet it's just a short drive along the coast.

There's nothing that says "overshadowed" like actually being located underneath another site. This is the case with Paris's Crypte Archaeologique. An incredible collection of the city's ruins dating back to Roman times, this museum is accessible via an inconspicuous staircase in front of Notre Dame Cathedral. So many tourists flock to see the gothic grandeur of this celebrated cathedral yet, descend into the world of the Crypte Archaeologique and you wouldn't know you were in the center of one of the world's busiest cities.

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD, it froze in time the city and the people of Pompeii. This magnificent spectacle has since become the most famous ghost town in the world, with hordes of visitors crowding into it every year. However, the lava and ash of Vesuvius went far beyond the reaches of this doomed city.
A lesser-known yet some say better preserved victim of this natural disaster is Herculaneum. Featured with Pompeii on UNESCO's World Heritage list, many of Herculaneum's ruins stand taller than those of Pompeii - some up to two stories high. Add to that the fact that this site offers a far less crowded experience and it has plenty to recommend it.

With its well preserved Maya temples and history dating back to the third century BC, Kabah is a fascinating Mexican site. Nevertheless, Kabah's close proximity to the World Heritage wonders of Uxmal - also a Maya site - forever puts it in the shadows. Interestingly, Kabah and Uxmal have several connections, including their many depictions of the rain deity Chaac and the fact that they were both abandoned at around the same time.

Athens is so rich in historic sites, it's not surprising that some occasionally get overlooked. One of these is the ancient cemetery and one time home of the city's potters, Kerameikos. Originally located outside ancient Athens's city walls, this site is home to everything from remnants of those walls and their gates to grave sites dating back several millennia. However, even though Kerameikos is not too far from the iconic Acropolis, it attracts just a fraction of the attention generated by this ultimate symbol of the city's golden age.

Never has an historic site stolen the show quite in the same way as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In a permanent state of falling, this Pisa landmark was never meant to be the star of the show. Indeed, when it was started in 1174, it was intended to be the bell tower of Pisa Cathedral, a stunning medieval church in its own right. However, when an engineering error made its bell tower begin to topple, Pisa Cathedral was forever eclipsed.

Seemingly the cover photo of every self-respecting guide to Peru and the focal point of many a backpacker's itinerary, Machu Picchu is quite deservedly one of the world's most iconic sites. After all, this magnificent Inca city is not just a marvel of engineering, but is full of mystery and stunning finds.
Yet, beyond this national treasure, the Inca trail offers a series of far less crowded Inca sites, including Winaywayna. This site may not have the scale of its famous counterpart and is harder to get to, but there's plenty to see including the well-preserved remains of terraces and houses.

Guru Michael:One of the largest temples in Mexico this amazing site is only 2 hours from Palenque, about 1/2 way to the colonial town of San Cristobal de las Casas. It is also the location of the last know carved date in the classic Mayan world. Visit http://mayantrip.com/2010/03/27/a-visit-to-the-mayan-ruins-of-tonina/ for more.

trcox2:Ruins of 12th and 13th century crusader castles dot the Jordanian countryside just outside of Wadi Musa (Petra)

bilawal12:The Centre is set up in the shadow of the historic Kot Diji Fort and a stone’s throw from the ancient Kot Diji.
Kot Diji fort is the 3 Century's old in Pakistan...
Historical olace in the Pakistan